The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-21
COFFEEVILLE, MISS.
Is THERE Silver NEAR THE
LoOsA sOO0HAf
An IndiaB Legend that WeuId seesa
90 Prove There Must he.



Loosa sceona river at Shoals bridge,
can be found the Rnest scenery la Ms
sissippi. On the left OF the road are
innumerable hollows, gorges and val
leys, which seem to descend into the
very bowels Of mother earth, while on
the right q mountain OF gigantic pro-
portions towers to a hight OF over
400 feet. On the top Of this mount-
ain, at the eastern eide, a ti1y stream
OF water bursts from hHge rock
which overksngs the precipice and
falls with a psIfect shower n bril-
liancy to bhe valley below. Near the
rock where this stream has its origin,
are other huge powders, which seem
to have bfeD belched from the bosom
OF the earth thousands Of years ago,
for on their sides the moss OF centur-
les has gathered, until now they are
covered with dead green color
which, as the twilight deepens, lends
such an aspect Of hideousness to the
whole mountain, as to make
the lonely traveller has en- on
bis way with an involuntary SILVER
and q feeling as though In the pres
ence OF death. Under one Of these
rocks and side by side as though en-
deavoring to keep each other COM
pany, are two Indian graves, concern
ing which there Ia q superstitious
legend among the old settlers which
runs as follows: "Eagle Feather was
the son OF a Ohoctaw chiefain, and
was as handsome and comely as he
was brave and strong. He was en-
gagged to Laughing Byes, who was, by
lar, the prettiest maiden In the Ohoc.
taw nation, and for whose smiles a
score OF youthful braves would have
willingly racrificed their lives. None,
however, found favor with the belle
CT the Choctaws save Eagle Feather,
and all went we'll until on an evil day
q your 4 white trader came, and while
plying his vocation among the simple
sons OF the forest, fascinated Laugh
ing Eyes with his gentle man
nerp, soft spoken words and
than Bagle FEATHER could give her.
The smooth, toft tongued villain also
luied her on and on by tales Of the
wealth and comfort he could give her
In distant land. In return for these
promises Laughing Eyes divulged te
him q secret known only to herself
and E'gle Feather-the whereabouts
Of an enormous quantity Of silver
pure, bright silver-lyiDg loose and In
nuggets OF all shapes and sizes. She
carried him to the foot OF the preci-
pice where the sparkling little stream
from the gloomy rock above spent Its
force upon the ground, and, gathering
a lap full OF bright silver lumps, In.
formed him that Eagle Feather and
herself had found them during one %
their rambles. Tom Garter, Tor sach
the traders name 10 said to have
been, thanked her In his gentle,
oily manner, and requested her 10
assist him In carrying some OF the ore
to place OF hiding, and together they
finally succeeded In transferring quite
a quanty up the mountain and plac.
ing II underneath the rock where the
two graves now are. The object now
with the trader was to get safely back
10 civilization with the ore, and with
that object in view, after having 6u-
ished his bargain with the Indians, he
led his horse to the foot Of the noun
tain trail and with Laughing Eyes
climbed 10 the rock where the ore wa
hidden and there accomplished her
ruin. Pacing the silver in sacks, he
babe her good, bye and was preparing
to leave when the tall form OF Eagl,
Feather bounded from behind anotEe
boulder and sprang upon him, The
two clutched and fell nea
the edge OF the precipice
and after a few moment,'s terrible
lighting, Garter gained the advantage
and attempted to rise, but Eagle
Feather made q violent effort at thu
came time, and threw himself over tn
cliff, dragging the trader with him
Garter gave an awful shrek as he dis
appeared, which seemed to rous,
Laughing Byes from the stupor init
which che had been thrown by tn
sudden appearance OF her forme
lover, for she gave one terrified glant,
toward the spot where the two ha
: disappeared, and then, with mad lik
!. laugh, began the Indian death chan
, as she approached the edge. Pausin
on the brink she finished the note
: and then sprang outward and down
; ward to meet the death OF her tw
lovers. Eagle Feather and Laugh
!, ing Eyes were buried under tn
rock, where THAR graves now ar
!. while the body Of the white trade
y was left where be fell for the wolves
= deyour. The medicine men OF h
y tribe placed the silver beside him an
y pronounced q curse on II and hi
. who should discover Il, praying
u the Great Spirit that all white me
y who found this silver and attempte
y to move II, should be stricken dea
~ Thus ends the legend, and now COM
y what q great many OF the older oil
" Gems associate with II. Mr.. Monge
- an early settler OF this county, left b
II home one morning Just before Il
u war, and as he departed, informed b
49, family that he was going turkey hur
:. ing. Monger was seen near Il
y y mountain, and going In that directio
n When he came home, he hi
iI' with him several large brig
= Jumps OF pure silver, and (
=, being Rsked where he found them, I
10 Piled Where these came from a
u many more, and must refuse to l
veal the spot, even to my family, an
l can purchase the laud on which 1t
to be found" The next day Mr.. Mo
y, ger was killed by the failing of q tr
lie which crushed his head and exit
w guished life instantly, and with /
10. sudden death died the silver seer,
K The neighbors visited the mounta
at whereit was believed he had made |
to find, but during the night before to
as OF earth had fallen and covered
signs OF silver should any have ext
ed. No doubt the dirt would ha
M been removed, but the war came
OF and for time ii was forgotten, a
when II sgain came into notice t
little hollow had been complies
filed, and as no one cared to reno
~ the dirt on an uncertainty, and
ed there is asuperstitious fear OF the cul
ii in the old legend, 1t has been |
~ alone, while the water continues